US women's hoops team tries to find post depth

From Anne Donovan and Katrina McClain to Lisa Leslie and Tina Thompson, the U.S. women's basketball team has always been able to wear down its opponents with its depth at the post.

Now with Leslie and Thompson retired from USA Basketball, the team finds itself trying to replenish the position.

The U.S. does return two very talented young and dynamic post players in Candace Parker and Sylvia Fowles from the 2008 Olympic team that won a gold medal in Beijing. Fowles led the Olympic team in scoring and rebounding and Parker, the 2008 WNBA MVP, was also a key contributor.

The two will be able to hold down the pivot for the next few Olympics, but finding complementary players to them will be key.

"We came into this cycle with the No. 1 priority being to identify two or three more post players who can play at that level," U.S. coach Geno Auriemma said. "Right now that's where our focus is. It is a bunch of young guys, but hopefully through this they'll get a chance to develop into what we need."

The future is bright with young WNBA stars Candice Dupree and Crystal Langhorne, as well as college seniors Tina Charles and Jayne Appel in camp. All have excelled while playing for USA Basketball in international youth competitions over the past few summers.

"We really have a lot of young talent," women's national team director Carol Callan said. "They may lack the experience of playing at the national level, but we really have a lot of great young players."

Auriemma has been impressed with Appel, despite her not being able to play as she recovers from an injury.

"I think her game is well suited for a team like this because she's such an unbelievably difficult player to guard in the lane and it would open up so many more opportunities for us," Auriemma said. "But maybe next September she'll play for me."

Auriemma has been working Fowles hard in practice all week trying to improve her footwork and positioning on defense.

"He's just trying to make me a better player," Fowles said. "I have a lot to work on and he's just doing his best to bring it out of me. I have so much to still work on."

The U.S. team will finish off its training Monday before flying to Russia to play in a tournament against some of the top club teams in the area.

The Americans will take 13 players to compete in the tournament. Maya Moore was the only healthy player at the camp who won't go as she has to head back to UConn for class.

"It's chance for them all to play in game situations and for us to see what they can do," Callan said. "We figured why not take all of them."

The U.S. team won't get a chance to train again until next spring. With most of the players playing overseas and Auriemma coaching at UConn, it's one of the only windows they'll have to work out as a group before the 2010 world championships.